[I] As kids, our grandparents frequently scared us by talking about how difficult life was when they were growing up. [II] Life has changed greatly since then, and it seems to get easier year by year. [III] In fact, with the help of robots, we soon might not have to do much at all. But is this a good thing? [IV]

By 2030, it's estimated that robotics will be a $10 billion business worldwide. Companies are already starting to integrate them into the workforce. The electronics manufacturer Foxconn is drawing up plans to launch a factory that is completely staffed by robot workers within the next 10 years. Meanwhile, an American company Briggo has invented a robot that serves gourmet- quality coffee to customers. With the push of a button, it will crush coffee beans, measure exact quantities of water, and even wave a steam wand to ensure customers get the perfect cream on top. Unlike human baristas, it can serve multiple drinks at once and work all day and night without a break.

Robots are also invading our homes. The Roomba is a mini-robot that vacuums rooms automatically according to a schedule. The Robomow is a device that will cut the grass for you while you sit in the shade. Then there's the Nanda Clocks, an alarm clock that makes sure that even the deepest sleepers get up on time. The clock is attached to a pair of wheels and will randomly move around the room. Once you finally catch it, you're probably too awake to hit the snooze button.

Although robots certainly help us to eliminate tedious tasks, many people are concerned about a future filled with robots. Some fear that humanity will start to decline if machines do everything for us. Others have even warned about the robot rebellion, in which robots become so smart that they may decide to turn on their masters. These ideas may seem a bit farfetched, but there are certainly lots of questions that need to be answered before everyone opens up to the idea of a robotic future.